Part 8 (2/2)
18. 2c green, Scott's No. 23.
19. 3c red, Scott's No. 24.
20. 6c brown, Scott's No. 25.
21. 12-1/2c blue, Scott's No. 26.
22. 15c lilac, Scott's No. 27.
23. 15c gray, Scott's No. 39.
CHAPTER VIII.--_The 1c Orange of 1869._
The 1c and 3c stamps of 1868 were so alike in color that it was soon found that confusion was easily possible between the two values. Early in 1869, therefore, the color of the 1c was changed to orange to prevent further mistakes. The exact date at which this change took place is not known, but in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for March 1st, 1869, we read:--
We have just received copies of the one cent printed in brilliant orange. No doubt this colour has been adopted in order better to distinguish it from the 3 cents, which it has. .h.i.therto too nearly approached.
From the above extract it would seem that the orange colored stamps were in use at least as early as February and though it has been a.s.serted that the change took place on January 1st, 1869, we believe there are no official doc.u.ments or early dated specimens in existence that would substantiate this statement.
These 1c stamps may be found in both orange and yellow shades as well as a combination of both. So far as is known they were printed from the same plate or plates as the earlier brown-red stamps.
The paper is the same as that used for the other denominations, _i.e._ wove, and the fact that this variety is not known with the watermark of the papermaker's trade mark is generally adduced as the strongest evidence in support of the theory that this watermarked paper was only of a provisional nature and was used some time during 1868.
The perforation is the usual 12 and specimens are known entirely imperforate.
_Reference List._
1869. Change of color. Wove Paper. Perf. 12.
24. 1c orange, Scott's No. 31.
CHAPTER IX.--_The Large 5c Stamp._
Although it somewhat interrupts the chronological sequence of our narrative, before dealing with the small ”cents” stamps, first appearing in 1870, it will be as well to give the history of the large 5c stamp which, though not issued until 1875, really belongs by virtue of its type and general appearance to the series of 1868.
It is known that the die for this 5c stamp was engraved in 1867 at the same time the dies for the 1/2, 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c, 12-1/2c and 15c values were prepared for, in the _American Journal of Philately_ for June, 1868, it is stated:--
The Canadian Government have had a 5 cent stamp prepared, engraved of the same type as the present set, the most noticeable difference being the circle round the head which is corded. The specimen sent us is printed in brown on India paper, bearing the Company's imprint underneath.
Though the die was all ready, as amply proved by the above extract, no plate was made as there was then no postal rate which required such a denomination. In 1875, however, the single letter rate between Canada and Great Britain was reduced to 5c as stated in the Postmaster-General's Report for 1875, viz.:--
A treaty for the formation of a General Postal Union, and for the adoption of uniform postal rates and regulations for International correspondence, was arranged and signed at Berne, Switzerland, in October, 1874, by the representatives of the Post Offices of the chief Nations of the world. This agreement took effect between all the countries which were directly parties to the Treaty in July last. The Treaty did not include the British Possessions beyond the sea, but Canada has, with the concurrence of the Imperial Government, applied for admission as a member of this Postal Union.
Meanwhile the letter rate of postage between Canada and the United Kingdom has, by arrangement with the Imperial Post Office, been reduced to the International rate of 2-1/2 pence sterling--5 cents currency--established by the Union Regulations; and this reduction has also been made applicable to correspondence pa.s.sing by way of New York, making the rate between Canada and the United Kingdom uniform at 5 cents by whatever route conveyed.
Although the Report alluded to above is dated June 30th, it must have been published at a later date as the ”July last” mentioned refers to July, 1875, and when the 5 cent rate came into operation stamps to fit this new rate were wanted in such a hurry that, as a temporary expedient, a plate was made from the die engraved in 1867 pending the preparation of a die conforming to the small sized stamps then in general use. There was only one printing and the total number issued is believed to have been about one million. Mr. Howes says it was issued on October 1st, 1875.
In 1877 the 5c single letter rate was, by treaty, extended to embrace the German states of Prussia, Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Saxony and Wurtemberg and in the same year the rate on a single letter to Newfoundland was reduced from 6c to 5c. At this time, of course, the small sized 5c stamps were in use but it will better preserve the continuity of our study of the postal rates to make one more extract from the Postmaster-General's Reports--that for 1878,--viz.:
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